About the council

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Graffiti Resource Council (GRC)?

Formerly known as the National Council to Prevent Delinquency, (NCPD) the Graffiti Resource Council provides information, education, and legislative assistance to help communities develop effective policies and programs that prevent graffiti vandalism. For over 20 years, we have provided public policy resources and advocacy at the state and local level to support comprehensive anti-graffiti programs that do not restrict the supply of aerosol coatings to legitimate consumers. We are celebrating our 20th Anniversary this year by focusing the organization clearly on the prevention and elimination of graffiti vandalism.

How does the GRC help communities that are dealing with graffiti vandalism?

The GRC helps communities by providing model regulations to clearly define and criminalize graffiti vandalism along with appropriate penalties and abatement strategies; and providing information such as the regulatory framework in neighboring cities and towns. In addition, the GRC can help communities develop focused volunteer efforts to clean up graffiti vandalism and enforcement initiatives to aggressively identify and prosecute vandals. Also, the GRC is developing an electronic Marketplace for products and equipment that will assist in clean up and prevention activities. We are collecting product information for our Marketplace so that city managers and procurement officers have one central website to research and shop for anti-graffiti coatings, clean up equipment, surveillance technologies and other necessary services.

Who can use the GRC’s services?

Anyone interested in preventing and cleaning up graffiti vandalism. We have been called by city mayors, city managers, downtown beautification organizations, members of the city council, procurement officers, transportation officials, graffiti task force members and many others.

How much does the GRC charge for its services?

The GRC does not charge a penny for its services or resources. Communities, local and state governments are free to contact the GRC and utilize our expertise free of charge.

How is the GRC funded?

The GRC is a nonprofit corporation completely funded by the aerosol coatings industry concerned about the negative impact of graffiti vandalism on America’s communities.

Where does GRC get involved?

Anywhere we can help! The GRC identifies cities and states throughout the country that have introduced graffiti-related legislation or communities that want to create anti-graffiti programs. We get involved in cities as large as San Diego, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Miami, FL, to smaller communities like Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Where advocacy opportunities exist, we encourage state and local government officials to adopt responsible retailing requirements rather than customer registration, lock-up, licensing and other requirements that restrict shelf space for aerosol coatings or restrict legitimate customer access.

What else does the GRC do?

The GRC collects information about successful anti-graffiti programs and makes it available to the public. In addition, over the last 20 years, we have developed a very large database of the sale and display regulations for aerosol coatings. Retail stores that sell aerosol coatings need to know these regulations. We are the only organization in North America that collects these regulations and provides a searchable database, which contains the sale and display requirements for over 4,200 locations.

Is it really possible to have a graffiti-free community?

Yes, it is possible . . . but it is hard work and every community needs to be committed to the goal of prevention and elimination. It takes the cooperation of law enforcement officials, the juvenile court system, transportation agencies, streets and sanitation agencies and the support of your local elected officials. The GRC believes that with a regulatory framework that clearly defines and criminalizes graffiti vandalism, includes effective penalties for violators, protocols for graffiti removal, and appropriate outreach to retailers and consumers along with a continuing commitment, your city can become graffiti-free.

Who should I contact to learn more?

If you would like to learn more about the GRC, please contact Executive Director Heidi McAuliffe (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Advocacy Counsel Javaneh Nekoomaram (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)